RB Nagging Injuries/Suspensions

Bernard, Giovani - CIN

Giovani Bernard is working his way back from a torn left ACL. Whether or not he ever regains his form is an entirely different issue. Typically Bernard is a lock for 1,000 total yards over the course of a season, but he has just eight games with 10-plus Fantasy points in his last 26 tries. He's also going to suffer a decline in touches with the addition of rookie Joe Mixon. There's a real good chance Bernard remains locked into a part-time role for however long he plays now that Mixon and Jeremy Hill will compete for playing time. Additionally, the Bengals' offensive line isn't expected to be as good as it was last year, which could further limit Bernard's numbers. Don't take him unless it's with one of your last few picks.

Freeman, Devonta - ATL

You'd think a second straight season with over 1,500 total yards and 13 total touchdowns would create demand for Devonta Freeman in Fantasy. Instead, there's worry about whether he'll stay hot. Tevin Coleman's rise in the Falcons offense meant over 50 fewer touches for Freeman in 2016. Coleman actually had just as many 10-plus Fantasy point games as Freeman, and he played in three fewer games. But Freeman averaged more than 2.0 Fantasy points per game more than Coleman in every format thanks to posting career-high averages in rushing (4.8) and receiving (8.6). If Freeman's going to remain a stud, he must maintain those lofty averages, find the end zone a bunch and outpace Coleman in touches, which he did for 18 of 19 games last year including the playoffs. It's a lot to ask, but Freeman deserves the benefit of the doubt given his recent success. He also enters a contract year, which should motivate him to play well. Bank on Freeman getting picked within the first 8-14 picks of every draft this summer. That said, Freeman suffered a pretty nasty concussion that caused him to miss some time this summer and was just cleared to return to practice on the 29th of August.

Ware, Spencer - KC

Spencer Ware had the chance to be the No. 1 running back for the Chiefs for the second year in a row, but a PCL tear in his knee in the third preseason game looks like it will derail those chances. Skip him now in your drafts.

Dixon, Kenneth - BAL

Dixon was slated to miss the first four games with a suspension, but a knee injury will keep him out all year. This means that Woodhead and West both get a bump in your fantasy rankings.

Elliott, Ezekiel - DAL

Ezekiel Elliott lived up to the hype as a rookie in 2016, and the Cowboys and Fantasy owners are hoping there's no sophomore slump waiting for him this year. Elliott took advantage of running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL last season and had 322 carries for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns and 32 catches for 363 yards and one touchdown in 15 games (he sat out Week 17 to rest for the playoffs). Elliott finished as the No. 2 Fantasy running back in standard leagues and scored double digits in Fantasy points in every game he played, including seven with at least 20 points in standard formats. He should continue to post dominant stats this season, and he was a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in all Fantasy leagues. However, a possible six-game suspension looms over him. At this point he is appealing the six-game suspension, so stay tuned. At this point he's being drafted as a fantasy RB 2 in most leagues. Darren McFadden is being drafted as a RB 3 in 12 team leagues and Alfred Morris is seeing himself being drafted with a last round flier as well.

Martin, Doug - OAK

A three-game suspension and no "100%" guarantee of playing time crush the Fantasy expectations for Doug Martin. In order for him to bounce back he'll first have to unseat Jacquizz Rodgers as the main running back for the Bucs, which won't necessarily be that easy if Rodgers plays well in Weeks 1 through 3. Then Martin will have to play like he did in 2015, when he averaged 4.9 yards per run and 8.2 yards per catch. Perhaps he'll get the chance -- his coaches and teammates seem satisfied with how Martin looked this offseason. He even claimed he's a stronger person after going through some personal problems. With optimism starting to creep back in, Martin is looking more like a bargain than an afterthought. Round 6 is when running back-hungry Fantasy owners will chase D-Mart, potentially landing him and Jacquizz Rodgers within 30-to-40 picks of each other. That would lock up a big dose of the Bucs backfield, which isn't a bad plan when comes to Fantasy roster building. With all of this said, be aware that Charles Sims will still be the primary passing down back.